Toggle device for lifting heavy objects



'M h ,4 J. s. RIUSQSEYL LQETAL.I 3,307,371

TOGGLE'DEVICE FOR LIFTQING HEAVY OBJECTS Filed Feb. 4, 1965 IG, 3 f

. Mm M 34 INVENTORS JOHN S. RUSSELL KENNETH L.CIANCHETTE ORNEYS UnitedStates Patent Office 3,307,871 Patented Mar. 7, 1967 3,307,871 TOGGLEDEVICE FOR LIFTING HEAVY OBJECTS John S. Russell and Kenneth L.Cianchette, Pittsfield, Maine, assignors to Cianbro Mfg. Corp.,Pittsfield, Maine, a corporation of Maine Filed Feb. 4, 1965, Ser. No.430,273 12 Claims. (Cl. 294-86) Another object of the invention is toprovide a lifting device which is safe, easy to handle and is relativelylight in weight compared to the weight of the objects to be lifted.

At the present time concrete pipe sections of large diameter and of from4 to 8 feet in length, particularly those 8 feet in length, are castwith a two inch hole in the side at the lengthwise center of thesection.This hole is provided in the sections of different size and weight foruse in handling after the forms have been removed. Concrete plugs arecast separately for groutingin after the concrete pipe sections havebeen placed.

Various means and methods have been employed for lifting and handlingconcrete pipe sections provided with holes in the side, but most of themare regarded as inefiicient and dangerous. One of the devices usedcomprised a heavy eye-bolt carried by a lifting shackle and loweredthrough the two-inch hole in the concrete pipe section. Following thisoperation, a worker must go inside the pipe section and slip a plateover the end of the eye-bolt and then thread on a nut. In effecting thistype of engagement with the concrete pipe section, it is necessary tohave two-men, one inside and one outside the pipe section. Furthermore,the time required for attachment is unnecessarily long and the manholding the plate in position with one hand and threading on the nutwith the other has his hands in a very dangerous position if the craneoperator-should get a wrong signal and start the lifting operation.

Another procedure used for lifting heavy concrete pipe sections providedwith a side hole for lifting, includes the use of a cable provided withan eye or loop at each end. Either both loops are attached on the cranehook and the center of the cable folded sharply and inserted through thetwo-inch hole in the concrete pipe section or one loop is attached tothe crane hook and the other loop is punched down through the hole inthe concrete pipe section. A man outside the pipe section is stillnecessary to guide the doubled portion of the cable or loop through thehole, and a second man is required inside to pull the loop down, spreadit and insert a crow bar or other suitable bar through the loop. Inthese operations, at least the second mans hands and fingers are indanger, and accidents have happened. When a man spreads the loop withone hand and inserts the bar through the loop with the other hand, bothhands are in a very dangerous position.

In accordance with the present invention, an engaging and lifting toggledevice is provided which avoids the dangers and difficulties referred toabove, and one which requires only one operator. All this singleoperator has to do in the lifting of heavy objects such as concrete pipesections, is to guide the lower portion of the lifting toggle deviceinto the two-inch hole from the outside and operate a toggle actuatingmeans located on the upper part of the device. With this the engagementof the concrete pipe section by the device is complete and ready forlifting, and the operators hands are never in a dangerous position.

In a more particular sense, the improved lifting toggle device of thepresent invention, which is used for lifting heavy objects of the typereferred to above comprises a lifting toggle mechanism including anelongated body member or stem adapted to be guided through a hole, suchas a two-inch hole in a concrete pipe, of the type referred to above, orother object having an opening through which a portion of the liftingtoggle device may pass. The elongated body of the device carries anelongated toggle member adjacent its lower end which is pivotedintermediate its ends to the body member and is swingable into a firstposition in which it is in alignment with the elongated body forinsertion into the opening in the object to be lifted. The toggle memberis also swingable from the first position referred to into a secondposition in which it extends transversely of the elongated body memberfor engaging with the object to be lifted and for retaining the liftingdevice in engagement therewith. The lifting toggle mechanism includesmeans intermediate its ends to the for pivoting the toggle member fromthe first position to the second position in which it can engage andsupport the object to be lifted.

In a preferred construction the toggle member, pivoted lower end portionof the elongated body of the device, is unbalanced on its pivot, thatis, one end of the toggle is heavier than the other end and is arrangedto swing downwardly and automatically bring the toggle member intoalignment with the elongated body of the device when the device islifted and the toggle member is in released position.

The lifting toggle device of the present invention includes otherfeatures, objects and advantages as described more in detail hereinafterin connection with the accomv panying drawings forming a part of thisapplication.

In the drawings;

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a lifting toggle device constructed inaccordance with the present invention and supported in position ready tobe guided through a lift ing hole in a heavy concrete pipe section;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the device shown in FIG. 1 rotatedthrough an angle of 90;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2engaging the wall of a heavy concrete pipe section, with the togglemember pivoted into position for securing the lifting device to theconcrete pipe section;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged broken elevational view showing the details ofconstruction of the toggle pivoting means and its released position whenthe toggle member is in the position shown in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged broken elevational view showing the details ofother portions of the lifting device in the position shown in FIG. 2.

The lifting toggle device illustrated in the drawings comprises anelongated cylindrical solid steel body or stem 10 having a diameter suchthat it may be guided easily through a hole or opening provided in theobject to be lifted or handled, such as an 8 ton cast concrete pipesection 8 feet in length. The steel body 10 is attached to and supportedby a clevis 12 carried by a crane hook 14 by which the device issuspended over a hole 16 in a cast concrete pipe section 18, as shown inFIG. 1. The lower portion of the body 10 is provided with a through slot20, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5.

A toggle member 22 is pivotally mounted in the lower portion of the slot20 by a toggle pin 24 which extends :hrough a portion 26 which isreceivable within the slot 20 when the toggle member 22 is in theposition shown'in FIGS. 1 and 2. The toggle member 22 is made from a:olid cylindrical piece of steel having about the same liameter as thatof the body 10 and is cut away on oppo- :ite sides to leave the portion26 while the opposite end Jortion 28 of the toggle member 22 iscylindrical and Jrovided with a pointed end 36. The end portion 28 is,herefore, considerably heavier than the end portion 26 1nd provides avery important and desirable feature, that s, an unbalanced, pivotedtoggle member, which when 'eleased from the position shown in FIG. 3automatically lSSLlmCS the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, when theifting device is suspended in the upright position shown in FIGS. 1 and2.

The pointed end 30 aids in guiding the body of the ifting device intothe hole 16 of the pipe section 18. The )pposite end edges of the endportion 26 of the device lre beveled at 32 and 34 to eliminate anyabrupt corners )n the upper end of the toggle member 22 when it is in heposition shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, thereby avoiding :ngagement with theinside of a hole when the toggle nember 22 is at a slight angle withrespect to its position is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the body 10 isbeing vithdrawn from a lifted object.

The toggle member 22 is rotated from its aligned posiion as shown inFIG. 1 to the position shown in FIG. 3 y means of a steel cable 36carrying a ball 37 at its lower :nd and a ball 39 at its upper end. Thelower end of the :able 36 is retained in the lower end of a slot 44 inthe oggle part 26 at a position spaced from the pin 24 and ldjacent theedge of the part 26, as shown in FIG. 3, by wo retaining screws 38threaded in from the opposite :ides in the manner shown in FIG. 5.

The upper end of the cable 36 is secured in a steel block it) mounted ona sleeve 42 extending around and slidable m the upper portion of thebody 10. In the position of he toggle member 22 as shown in FIGS. 2 and5, the :able 36 lies in the slot 44 in the adjacent edge of the andportion 26. The cable then extends through an openng 46 from the upperend portion of the slot 20 into a Iertical slot 48 running from theopening 46 upwardly along the portion of the body 10 to the position ofthe :leeve 42.

The sleeve 42 has a limited range of movement along he shaft or body 10sufficient to pivot the toggle member 52 from the position shown inFIGS. 1, 2 and to the iorizontal position shown in FIG. 3. In FIGS. 1and 2 he sleeve 42 rests on a combined toggle member-direcion indicatorand stop collar 50 which is fixed to the shaft 10, by Welding orotherwise, so that its projecting indicaor portion 52, shown in FIGS. 1and 3, extends in the lirection which the weighted upwardly-swingingpart 28 )f the toggle member 22 points. An operator, standing )n aconcrete pipe section, can orient the device by pointng the indicator 52so that the toggle member 22 extends engthwise of the pipe section whenit is pivoted to the JOSitlOIl shown in FIG. 3.

The sleeve 42 is provided at its top with a peripherally-:xtendingfiange 54 to prevent the operators hands from dipping off thesleeve while raising it from the position EhOWlfl in FIGS. 1 and 2 tothat shown in FIG. 3. The ileeve is also provided with an L-shapedguiding and lock- .ng slot 56, shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, into which a pin58, set in the shaft extends. This pin guides the sleeve 42 verticallyas it is lifted so that the cable 36 is pulled up straight, after whichthe sleeve is slightly rotated 10 the position shown in FIG. 3, in whichthe sleeve is latched in its upper position and holds the toggle memoer22 in its transverse position, also as shown in FIG. 3.

The cable 36 is a relatively stiff steel cable, and its ends are held sothat it is normally retained in the slots 44 and 48. The balls 37 and 39are respectively swedged to the ends of the cable 36. The two screws 38are preferably cupped Allen screws, which when inserted, act to provide4 a socket in the slot 44 for the ball 37 on the lower end of the cable36.

The upper end of the cable 36 is secured in the steel block 40 in themanner shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, in which the block 40 is shown as beingprovided with a milledout vertical slot 60 for receiving the cable 36.The ball 39 at the upper end of the cable is movable in the slot 60, butis prevented from sliding through the block by a small spring type pin62 such as a cotter pin extending transversely through suitable smallholes drilled in the block. This pin prevents the cable from leaving theslot in the block but still allows the sleeve 42 to be lowered withoutapplying a down pressure on the cable 36. This is necessary to preventthe buckling of the cable which would cause undue chafing or wear whilethe toggle member 22 is in the lift position, as shown in FIG. 3 andsleeve 42 is in the unlocked, release position as shown in FIG. 4.

While there may be some variation in the manner of operating the liftingdevice, a suitable procedure carried out by a single operator includesthe step of guiding the lifting toggle device at the position shown inFIG. 1, so that the point 30 enters the hole 16 in pipe 18. The deviceis then lowered until the collar 50 comes int-o contact with the uppersurface of the pipe 18. The operator, standing on the pipe, then liftsthe sleeve 42 and turns it into the locking position shown in FIG. 3.This operation brings the toggle member 22 to the transverse position asalso shown in FIG. 3. The collar extension or indicator 52 is preferablypointed in the lengthwise direction of the concrete pipe section. Thecrane operator is then signaled to take a strain on the lifting cableuntil the toggle member 22 is in contact with the inside of the pipesection. The operator then rotates the sleeve 42 to the unlockedposition and lOWers it to the release position shown in FIG. 4. Sincethe toggle member 22 is in the lift position and the sleeve 42 is in therelease position, the cable 36 is held in its upper position by thetoggle member 22, as the block 40 slides along the cable with the sleeve42 to the release position shown in FIG. 4. The ball 39 is then abovethe pin 62 as shown in; FIG. 4.

After the lift device operator has completed the foregoing steps, thecrane operator lifts the pipe and when it is set in the desiredposition, he lowers the lifting toggle: device until the stop collar 50comes in contact with the top of the pipe section, in which position thetoggle: member 22 because of its weighted end 28 operates; automaticallyto pull the cable down and assume the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.In this position the ball 39 rests on the pin 62. The crane operatorthen lifts thedevice out of the hole and is ready to move to anotherpipe section. In these operations, no worker is required to enter theconcrete pipe -or other object to be lifted or to handle any part of thedevice which might cause him: in ury.

The improved lifting toggle device of the present inven-- tion ispreferably machined from special high strength alloy steels. In theparticular example described a device made in this way, as determined bytests, has a safety factor of approximately four to one. The arrangementof the cable 36 in the slots 44 and 48 prevents chafing of' the cablewhile entering, in use and on leaving the lift holes in concrete pipesections. Furthermore, the point of attachment of the lower end of thecable to the toggle member, in an offcenter position permits thepivoting of the toggle member without chafing the cable. If, after alarge concrete pipe is lifted, it rolls so that the hole and liftingtoggle are to one side, or are inclined from the vertical, the togglewill operate automatically, in the horizontal position, when the liftingpressure is released,

' if the indicator 52 is pointed upward and the device is toggle 22,causes toggle 22 to pivot to the release position as shown in FIGS. 1and 2.

While the cable 36 and the sleeve 42 are particularly advantageous andthe preferred form of the actuating means for the toggle 22, it will beunderstood that a rod or equivalent means, pivoted at the position ofthe cup ended screws 38, and operated by a suitable handle and latch,may be utilized for actuating the toggle 22. The cable 36 with a ball ateach end is a convenient and readily removable and replaceable liftingmeans, and a damaged cable may be removed by simply releasing the screws38 and removing the pin 62. The member 50 is slotted at least at itsupper portion to accommodate a portion of the cable when the sleeve 42is down.

While the lifting device of the present invention is particularly usefulin lifting and handling heavy concrete pipe sections, as described, itmay be used in the manner of a harpoon for engaging in any object to belifted or in a cable, chain or other means attached to an object to belifted.

While the shaft or body of the lifting mechanism and the toggle member22 may be made of heavy round steel or alloy steel bar stock, it is tobe understood that the shaft may be made up of steel or two alloy steelbars secured to a somewhat narrower steel bar above the slot 20 so as toleave the slot 48 and provide the pair of legs on the respective sidesof the slot 20. The toggle member may be made out of a heavy steel barpivoted to one side of its longitudinal center on the pivot pin 24between the lower end portion of the legs of the shaft. The togglemember will, therefore, be unbalanced and normally assume the positionshown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

We claim:

1. In a lifting toggle mechanism for lifting heavy objects in which theobject to be lifted is adapted to be engaged by a portion of the liftingtoggle mechanism, said lifting toggle mechanism including an elongatedshaft provided with a lifting attachment at its upper end, an elongatedtoggle member pivoted intermediate its ends to the lower end portion ofthe elongated shaft, said toggle member being swingable into a firstposition in which it is in general alignment with the elongated shaftfor movement with the lower end portion of the shaft into engagementwith the object to be lifted, and said toggle member being swingablefrom said first position into a second position in which it extendstransversely of said shaft for anchoring the lifting toggle mechanism ina lifting relation to the object to be lifted, wherein the nnprovementcomprises pull means attached to one end portion of the toggle membernear but spaced from its pivot point and extending upwardly along theshaft to the upper portion thereof for positively swinging the togglemember from its first position with respect to the shaft into its secondand lifting position in which it extends transversely of said shaft, andan operating handle means mounted on the upper portion of the shaft towhich said pull means is connected.

2. A lifting toggle mechanism as claimed in claim 1, including means forlatching the handle meansin a position to hold the toggle member in itssecond position.

3. A lifting toggle mechanism as claimed in claim 1, in which the shaftis provided with a passageway through which the pull means extends,thereby avoiding chafing of the toggle member by the object to helifted.

4. A lifting toggle mechanism as claimed in claim 1, in which the togglemember is unbalanced on its pivot whereby it will automatically swing toits first position in which it is in alignment with the shaft, unlessheld from pivoting relative to the shaft.

5. A lifting toggle mechanism as claimed in claim 4, in which the twoend portions of the toggle member are of unequal weight.

6. A lifting toggle mechanism as claimed in claim 4,

wherein the end portions of the toggle member are of similar length, andin which one end portion is heavier than the other and extendsdownwardly substantially entirely below the lower end of the shaft whenthe toggle member is in its first position.

7. A lifting toggle mechanism as claimed in claim 1, including anindicator means at the upper portion of the shaft projecting in adirection to indicate the orientation of the toggle member when in itssecond position.

8. A lifting toggle mechanism as claimed in claim 1, in which the lowerportion of the elongated shaft comprises two spaced parallel legsseparated by a through slot, said toggle member extending between thelower portions of said legs and pivoted at a point intermediate its endstherebetween, one end portion of the toggle member being adapted tooccupy the through slot between said legs while the other end portionextends substantially entirely below the lower end of the shaft when thetoggle member is in its first position in alignment with the shaft.

9. A lifting toggle mechanism as claimed in claim 8, wherein the lowerend of the pull means is attached to the edge portion of the togglemember at a point somewhat below the pivot point when the toggle memberis in its first position, and a groove extending along the edge portionof said one end portion of the toggle member for receiving the pullmeans when the toggle member is in its first position.

10. A lifting toggle mechanism as claimed in claim 1, in which thehandle means comprises a vertically movable sleeve surrounding the shaftat its upper portion, and in which the pull means comprises a length ofcable the upper end of which is loosely secured to said sleeve, wherebysaid sleeve may be lowered without lowering the cable when the togglemember is in lifting engagement with an object to be lifted.

11. A lifting toggle mechanism as claimed in claim 10, wherein saidtoggle member is unbalanced and in which one end portion if heavier thanthe other and normally extends downwardly below the end portion of theshaft when the toggle member is in its first position, said togglemember being adapted to automatically return from its second position toits first position upon lowering of the toggle mechanism after liftingan object, whereby said toggle mechanism may be withdrawn directly fromsaid object.

12. A lifting toggle mechanism as claimed in claim 1, in which the pullmeans comprises a line loosely attached to the handle in a manner suchthat 'when the handle is moved upwardly it pulls the line and swings thetoggle member to its second position, said handle being movabledownwardly to the toggle member release position without moving the linedownwardly when the toggle member is in lifting engagement with anobject to be lifted, whereby the toggle member will automatically assumeits first position when a lifting pull on the toggle mechanism isrelaxed.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 976,652 11/1910Hensley 294-97 1,100,019 6/1914 Johnson 294-97 1,735,713 11/ 1929 Alltop295-97 1,890,734 12/ 1932 Kukerka 294-97 X 2,584,124 2/1952 Gustafson294-86 X 2,923,569 2/ 1960 Milliron 294-97 3,057,651 10/ 1962 Lloyd294-97 3,132,890 5/1964 Beaudet 294-86 M. HENSON WOOD, JR., PrimaryExaminer.

EVON C. BLUNK, Examiner.

C. H. SPADERNA, I. N. ERLICH. Assistant Examiners.

1. IN A LIFTING TOGGLE MECHANISM FOR LIFTING HEAVY OBJECTS IN WHICH THEOBJECT TO BE LIFTED IS ADAPTED TO BE ENGAGED BY A PORTION OF THE LIFTINGTOGGLE MECHANISM, SAID LIFTING TOGGLE MECHANISM INCLUDING AN ELONGATEDSHAFT PROVIDED WITH A LIFTING ATTACHMENT AT ITS UPPER END, AN ELONGATEDTOGGLE MEMBER PIVOTED INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS TO THE LOWER END PORTION OFTHE ELONGATED SHAFT, SAID TOGGLE MEMBER BEING SWINGABLE INTO A FIRSTPOSITION IN WHICH IT IS IN GENERAL ALIGNMENT WITH THE ELONGATED SHAFTFOR MOVEMENT WITH THE LOWER END PORTION OF THE SHAFT INTO ENGAGEMENTWITH THE OBJECT TO BE LIFTED, AND SAID TOGGLE MEMBER BEING SWINGABLEFROM SAID FIRST POSITION INTO A SECOND POSITION IN WHICH IT EXTENDSTRANSVERSELY OF SAID SHAFT FOR ANCHORING THE LIFTING TOGGLE MECHANISM INA LIFTING RELATION TO THE OBJECT TO BE LIFTED, WHEREIN THE IMPROVEMENTCOMPRISES PULL MEANS ATTACHED TO ONE END PORTION OF THE TOGGLE MEMBERNEAR BUT SPACED FROM ITS PIVOT POINT AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY ALONG THESHAFT TO THE UPPER PORTION THEREOF FOR POSITIVELY SWINGING THE TOGGLEMEMBER FROM ITS FIRST POSITION WITH RESPECT TO THE SHAFT INTO ITS SECONDAND LIFTING POSITION IN WHICH IT EXTENDS TRANSVERSELY OF SAID SHAFT, ANDAN OPERATING HANDLE MEANS MOUNTED ON THE UPPER PORTION OF THE SHAFT TOWHICH SAID PULL MEANS IS CONNECTED.